Contraceptive use in women with mental illness in Soweto, South Africa

South African Journal of Psychiatry

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Contraceptive use in women with mental illness in Soweto, South Africa
 
Creator Galvin, Lisa J. Nel, Yvette M.
 
Subject Psychiatry mental health; mental illness; contraception; women; South Africa
Description Background: The psychosocial and medical implications of unplanned pregnancy in women with mental illness (MI) are vast. International guidelines make clear recommendations about family planning for women with MI, particularly those exposed to known human teratogens; however, there is limited research related to contraceptive usage among women with MI.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of consistent contraceptive use and family planning education (FPE) among a population of women of childbearing age with MI.Setting: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath psychiatric unit in Soweto, South Africa.Methods: A convenience sample comprising 190 eligible women of childbearing age with MI was employed for the study. The women were invited to participate by means of a structured questionnaire which was administered by the researcher. Clinical information was obtained from the patients’ medical records.Results: Consistent contraceptive usage occurred in 44.7% of participants. Family planning education was low (26.8%). Relationship status was associated with using contraception consistently (p = 0.0229). Teratogen exposure was not associated with either contraceptive use or FPE. Family planning education was not associated with contraceptive use.Conclusion: Women with MI may have increased risk for unplanned pregnancy if they are not in a relationship because of perceived lack of need for contraception.Contribution: Family planning education must be prioritised in women with MI, especially among women prescribed teratogenic medication, highlighting the risks associated with unplanned pregnancy.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Petra Gaylard
Date 2024-01-25
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Quantitative cross-sectional study
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v30i0.2153
 
Source South African Journal of Psychiatry; Vol 30 (2024); 9 pages 2078-6786 1608-9685
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2153/3209 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2153/3210 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2153/3211 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2153/3212
 
Coverage South Africa 2016-2017 18-49 years of age; women with mental illness
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Lisa Jane Galvin, Yvette Margaret Nel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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